A BISHOP who said gay people should consider seeking medical help will not be prosecuted because police say he has not committed any offence.

The Right Reverend Dr Peter Forster, Bishop of Chester, said in an interview: 'Some people who are primarily homosexual can reorientate themselves. I would encourage them to consider that as an option, but I would not set myself up as a medical specialist on the subject - that's in the area of psychiatric health.'

The police received a complaint from a member of the public after the bishop's comments appeared in our sister paper the Chester Chronicle.

They interviewed the father-of-four but said on Monday they were dropping the matter.

In a statement the force said: 'The issues raised by the complaint have been examined, and the complainant in the case has been spoken to.

'The Crown Prosecution Service has been consulted with at length, and Cheshire Police are satisfied no criminal offences have been committed, as current public order legislation does not provide specific offences based on sexuality.

'Dr Forster will be spoken to in order to fully inform him of the outcome of this enquiry.'

Yesterday, former organiser of the Crewe-based Gay Men Social Group John Morin said he never expected Dr Forster to be prosecuted.

He added: 'The bishop clearly doesn't understand human sexuality and the fact that it's genetic rather than an illness.

'I think the bishop is misguided, he doesn't understand the subject and he needs to be better informed.'

There has been no comment from the bishop following the publication of the interview.